Information FAQ

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GLOBALGAMEJAM.ORG AND GLOBALGAMEJAM.NL?Globalgamejam.org is the website of the official organization worldwide. GGJNL is a collaboration of a bunch of Dutch GGJ locations. Several Dutch GGJ locations had a need for a centralized Dutch website, where they could have one place for registration and communication across the country. Together with the help of Dutch Game Garden, Global Game Jam NL was created. The locations share experiences, exchange jammers if a location is full, organize a national event, and some get sponsors for T-shirts, lanyards, etc. Not all Dutch GGJ locations are part of GGJNL though: there have always been locations that are independent.

EVENT TIME AND DATE
Friday 25-01-2019 16:00 or 18:00 to Sunday 27-01-2019 20:00

WHAT IS THE COST OF PARTICIPATION?
The participation fee is set by the jam locations – all of the money goes to the location organizer. The costs are different per location. Each location sets their own fee based on costs of food, building, licenses, hiring security, emergency response officers (‘BHV’), etc. The fee is often not enough to cover all these expenses, but locations try to keep the fee as low as possible – that’s why many have additional sponsors. More details on what a specific locations offers to jammers can be found on the location pages.

CAN I SIGN UP AT ANY TIME?
Registration opens around the 1st of December, 2018. You can sign up until all locations are full. This has to do with location restrictions. We reserve the right to close registration at any time, and people signing up after that will be put on the waiting list. You will be notified by email about the state of your registration.

WHO IS WELCOME AT THE GAME JAM?
Everybody with some experience or just a big ambition in game development is welcome. It helps if you are a game developer or game student, of course.

IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PRESS TO COVER THIS EVENT?
Yes there is, and you are welcome to report on the event. Please contact the different locations for the most opportune time to visit. Since this is a unique worldwide event, we strongly encourage people to take an interest and we would be happy to take some time and show you around. If you’d like to contact Dutch Game Garden directly, please send a mail to info+ggj@dutchgamegarden.nl.

IS THERE HARDWARE AND / OR SOFTWARE AVAILABLE TO USE?
No, there is not. It’s always better to use your own software and hardware, since these belong to you and are most familiar to you. Since this is a very large event, we count on you to bring your own computer and install whatever software you like (as long as it’s legal).

ARE THERE RESTRICTIONS AS TO WHAT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO MAKE?
Nope. Make whatever you like within the context of the theme that will be announced Friday evening. Create your game in Flash, Unity, Unreal, Java, Game Maker; you can even build a board game. The only rule is that you have to be able to upload your game to www.globalgamejam.org so that people around the world can download and play it. If you are making a board game, provide instructions as to how to print/make it yourself.

WHAT HAPPENS TO MY GAME? WHO ‘OWNS’ IT?
The team/makers of the game hold all IP rights. However, the Global Game Jam may use the games for demonstration as it sees fit. All games must be posted in the state they are in by the end of the GGJ event (Sunday). If the team/makers of the game wish to upload subsequent versions, they are welcome to upload it to www.globalgamejam.org. All participants and all games entered for GGJ must agree to a Creative Commons, share, alter, no sell license.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME TO THE JAM?

laptop or other computer with the software you need to create games. Don’t forget your power cable!

UTP cable for internet access (wireless is not as reliable as you might think with lots of people on site)

a USB stick of at least 2GB (for your own convenience)

brainstorming tools, pens, dice etc.

A camera/phone to record and share your experience on social media, using the hashtag #ggjnl and #GGJ18 on Twitter and @globalgamejamnl on Facebook